We finally accepted the former proposition, and I think
wisely; for the most of us were so ignorant of political tricks and
devices, that we still needed to learn from the men, and we could
not afford to draw upon us the hostility of both parties, in the
very infancy of our movement.
Never in my life did I have such a task, as in drumming up a
few women to attend the primary township meeting for the election
of delegates. It was impossible to make them comprehend its
importance. Even after I had done my best to explain the
technicalities of male politics, and fancied that I had made some
impression, the answer would be: "Well, I'd go, I'm sure, just to
oblige you, but then there's the tomatoes to be canned"--or, "I'm
so behindhand with my darning and patching"--or, "John'll be sure
to go, and there's no need of two from the same house"--and so on,
until I was mightily discouraged. There were just nine of us, all
told, to about a hundred men. I won't deny that our situation that
night, at the Wrangle House, was awkward and not entirely
agreeable.
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